Richard

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Richard Lee (also rendered Richard Li)
Alias(es)	Ultraman; Ultraman Nexus; Nexus; “God of Hydra” (while impersonating Alexander Pierce)
Species/Race	Originally human; assimilated with Ultraman’s Light, though he continues to identify as human 493
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Daily Planet; Planet Pictures; Ravagers (leader); independent ally of Earth’s defenders
Occupation/Role	Newspaper owner; film producer; Ultraman; interstellar captain
Status	Alive; defeated Dark Lucifer and ended the crisis surrounding the Space Beasts 742
First Appearance	The Giant of Light in the Marvel World, Chapter 2: “The Newspaper Owner Is an Ultraman”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Evolution Trust / Nexus Juvenile Form	2 7	Receives Ultraman Nexus’s Evolution Trust after transmigrating to Marvel. His initial transformed state is Nexus’s Juvenile Form.
Enhanced human physique	3	Learns that his untransformed body has physical fitness comparable to Captain America’s.
Nexus Red Youth / Red Adult Form	133 134	Breaks through his bottleneck after resolving to protect others. The form is a qualitative increase in power, gaining stronger beam attacks, purification, and limited spatial abilities.
Cosmic-energy enhancement	314 331	Develops the ability to sense and manipulate cosmic energy; his altered understanding of energy further strengthens Nexus’s Light.
Quasi-god / cosmic-god threshold	383 384	Defeats a Celestial and absorbs its cosmic energy over three days, becoming far stronger but initially remaining short of complete godhood.
Nexus Blue Adult Form	478 479	Evolves through humanity’s hope and his acceptance of Ultraman’s role. The form represents a new Light-based evolution beyond Red Adult Form.
Single-universe god-tier	479	Officially enters cosmic godhood after establishing protection as his “anchor,” preserving his identity against the influence of overwhelming power.
Infinity Stone augmentation	632	Obtains four Infinity Stones, greatly improving his ability to protect himself within the universe.
Earth’s guardian god	650	Holds authority over Earth’s resources and energy, using it to restore terrain and create life across a destroyed base site.

Background / History

Transmigration and the Daily Planet

Richard transmigrated into the Marvel world while rewatching Ultraman Nexus, receiving the Evolution Trust rather than a conventional system. He became the owner of the Daily Planet, initially preferring a quiet life running a newspaper over a life as a full-time superhero 2 3.

When Abomination’s rampage threatened the Daily Planet’s office, Richard transformed into Ultraman Nexus and defeated the monster with a single punch. The newspaper’s exclusive coverage and photograph of Ultraman made the incident a worldwide sensation and sold out its edition 2 3.

S.H.I.E.L.D. soon traced Ultraman’s energy signature to Richard’s vicinity. Rather than endure the inconvenience of maintaining a secret identity, Richard bluntly confessed that he was Ultraman; Coulson and Ward dismissed the claim and left 5 7.

From Reluctant Hero to Protector

Richard originally rejected the idea that he was an inherently selfless hero. He used his abilities to defend what mattered to him, but did not want to spend his life endlessly chasing criminals or joining an organization 3 8.

Repeated battles with Space Beasts changed his outlook. During his rematch with Guluglaim, he recognized protecting frightened civilians as his duty, triggering his evolution into the Red Youth Form 133 134. He later concluded that his ultimate anchor—the principle that would keep him grounded as a god—was protection itself 479.

Media, Film, and Public Heroism

Richard expanded the Daily Planet into a broader entertainment business. He registered the Spider-Woman trademark, founded Planet Pictures, and persuaded Tony Stark to invest in a superhero film centered on heroism rather than spectacle 109 112 113 114.

He subsequently built an Ultraman-themed industrial chain, pursued comics, and planned to recruit Captain America as an artist for the first publication 390. His media ventures helped establish Ultraman as a public symbol of hope before he fully embraced that image himself 459 478.

Cosmic Expansion

After defeating a Celestial, Richard absorbed its energy and entered the threshold of cosmic godhood 383 384. He later became involved in interstellar affairs, took command of the Ravagers, visited the Shi’ar Empire, and intervened against threats including the Skrulls, the Universal Church of Truth, Thanos, and Dark Mephisto 496 509 528 603.

Richard ultimately acquired four Infinity Stones and began maintaining constant surveillance over Earth and the wider universe, wary of another threat like Dark Zagi 632.

Final Conflict

Dark Lucifer’s appearance forced Richard into a battle against an enemy whose abilities he could not predict from his prior knowledge. When Lucifer wielded power comparable to a living Cosmic Cube, Richard appeared to have exhausted every option 676 737.

In the decisive battle, other Ultramen arrived to support Nexus. Together, their combined beams destroyed Lucifer completely, purifying his darkness and ending the Space Beast crisis that had shaped Richard’s journey 723 742.

Personality

Richard is calm, sarcastic, and unusually difficult to intimidate. He remains composed when dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, cosmic powers, and hostile superhumans, often responding to threats with dry humor rather than visible alarm 5 274 650.

He values independence and dislikes being absorbed into formal organizations. He declined Captain America’s invitation to join the Avengers and later rejected Tony Stark’s proposal to join the Illuminati 493 593. Even so, he repeatedly cooperates with others when a crisis requires it.

Although he once regarded himself as merely a lucky ordinary man, Richard gradually accepts the responsibility attached to his power. He defines himself as both human and Light, refusing to abandon his humanity even after reaching godhood 385 493.

Abilities & Skills

Ultraman Nexus Transformation

Richard transforms through the Evolution Trust into Ultraman Nexus.

• Can assume giant or human-sized Nexus forms; his initially documented giant limit was 49 meters, while his smallest form could reach ant size 3.
• His human-sized Nexus form retains his combat capability and is suitable for urban battles where a giant transformation would cause collateral damage 190 619.
• Transformation and heavy techniques consume significant energy; overuse can exhaust him and trigger Nexus’s warning light 96 133 178.
• His current Blue Adult Form dramatically increases his strength and speed, placing him among the stronger Celestial-level combatants 664.

Light Power

Richard manipulates Light Power for offense, defense, healing, and energy control.

• Temporarily cured Tony Stark’s palladium poisoning through direct contact 112.
• Uses the Energy Blaster in human form; he eradicated a vampire nest and rescued captive civilians with it 52.
• Can absorb and redirect energy, matching Captain Marvel’s energy attacks without directly harming her 619 620.
• Uses Core Flash to release explosive energy from across his body, breaking Chthon’s magical restraints 342.
• Used Ultimate Arrow: Shining to destroy Mephisto’s body at a molecular level 483.
• Formed a hundred-meter Storm Light Sword capable of killing multiple Space Beasts in one strike 507.

Purification and Spatial Power

Red Adult Form granted Richard abilities beyond raw destructive force.

• Possesses purification abilities effective against dark or corrupted forces 134.
• Can access and maintain a Meta Field, including a dimensional pocket in which he can hide before striking 144.
• Meta Field deployment has relatively high energy consumption, though maintaining a human-sized form without intense combat is more sustainable 144.

Cosmic Energy and Godhood

Richard’s later growth centers on cosmic energy and his understanding of universal rules.

• Can sense and manipulate cosmic energy, a capability associated with crossing into godhood 314.
• Defeated a Celestial by combining increased power with a deeper understanding of spatial rules 383.
• Became a single-universe-level god after establishing protection as his anchor 479.
• As Earth’s guardian god, can command planetary resources and energy on a vast scale 650.

Psychic and Possession Techniques

Richard developed limited mental abilities after fighting Dark Faust.

• Can launch psychic attacks and establish mental defenses, though he does not consider himself a true master of psychic powers 291.
• Can possess another person’s body, as demonstrated when he took control of Alexander Pierce 269.
• Strong-willed targets can resist possession; Richard must obtain consent or incapacitate the target first 154.

Magical Aptitude

Richard has extraordinary talent for learning magic, despite being unable to properly follow the conventional path of a sorcerer.

• Memorized a beginner spell’s incantation almost immediately and formed a magic array within minutes 128.
• The Ancient One determined that gods would not lend power to another god, making conventional magical advancement unavailable to him 131.

Enhanced Senses and Physical Ability

Even outside transformation, Richard’s Light has enhanced his physical and sensory capabilities.

• Possesses Captain America-level physical fitness in human form 3.
• Has heightened awareness even while asleep, making surprise attacks extremely difficult 7.
• Can detect surveillance, approximate an observer’s location, and assess physical condition from subtle sensory clues 317.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Evolution Trust — Nexus’s transformation device and the source of Richard’s Ultraman forms 2.
• Energy Blaster — Handheld Light-based weapon used in human form 52.
• Stone Wing — Used to recover after being severely depleted in battle 178.
• Cosmic Cube — Used for interstellar travel and later research into higher-dimensional energy 364 384.
• Four Infinity Stones — Acquired to strengthen his protection against universal threats 632.
• Shi’ar energy bracers — Gifted by Queen Lilandra as protective equipment 528.
• Shi’ar spaceship and black armor — Gifts from Galacta 528.

Businesses and Media

• Daily Planet — Richard’s newspaper; its Ultraman exclusive turned the Abomination incident into global news 2.
• Planet Pictures — Film company established with Tony Stark’s investment of over $300 million 114.
• Ultraman film franchise — Uses fictionalized Ultraman stories to promote heroism and public hope 113 168.
• Ultraman-themed industrial chain — Richard’s later business expansion into merchandise and comics 390.

Relationships

• Tony Stark / Iron Man — Investor and frequent ally. Richard temporarily cured Stark’s palladium poisoning, then secured his backing for Planet Pictures; their relationship remains marked by sarcasm and mutual respect 112 113 493.
• Captain America / Steve Rogers — Respects Richard’s character and discovered his Ultraman identity through intuition. Rogers invited him into the Avengers, but Richard declined 468 469 493.
• Nick Fury — Initially distrusted due to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secrecy, but later provides Richard with intelligence on threats including Ross’s Space Beast experiments 5 156.
• Phil Coulson — One of Richard’s earliest S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts; repeatedly approaches him about Ultraman and supernatural incidents 5 65.
• Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen — Housemate and combat ally. Gwen intervenes for Richard during Kaecilius’s attack and is trusted to defend his estate 56 337 429.
• Jessica Jones — Housemate and ally who trusts Richard’s judgment in combat, even when reluctant to follow orders 41 56.
• Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch — Becomes attached to Richard after Chthon’s defeat and asks to stay with him rather than immediately train at Kamar-Taj 344 451.
• Ancient One — Recognizes Richard’s unusual origin, advises him on his future, and helps him understand the limitations of magic 131 132.
• Galacta — Interstellar companion who gives Richard armor and a spaceship. Their separation is reluctant when she returns to Galactus’s side 528 647.
• Ravagers — Submit to Richard after he defeats Yondu and breaks the Yaka Arrow; they later follow him as their captain in space 496 507.
• T’Challa / Black Panther — Initially believes Richard is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but comes to respect him after witnessing his Nexus transformation 252 256.

Notable Quotes

“I’m Ultraman.” 7

“I’m not an Avenger.” 469

“Both light and human.” 493